Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Suginami-ku Cost of Living Comparison Between Okinawa and Suginami-ku

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,437 per month in Okinawa vs $1,177 in Suginami-ku, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,214 per month in Okinawa vs $1,890 in Suginami-ku, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,992 per month in Okinawa vs $2,602 in Suginami-ku, rent included.

Okinawa costs about 22% more than Suginami-ku, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Okinawa sits 8% above the global median, while Suginami-ku is 12% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.18 ¥1,329

$6.98 ¥1,134

17.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.94 ¥6,815

$35.14 ¥5,710

19.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.98 ¥971

$5.07 ¥824

17.95%

Cappuccino

$3.34 ¥543

$3.19 ¥518

4.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 ¥215

$1.13 ¥184

16.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 ¥152

$0.77 ¥124

20.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.50 ¥569

$2.02 ¥329

73.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 ¥797

$2.04 ¥331

140.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ¥317

$1.57 ¥255

24.20%

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 ¥385

$1.74 ¥283

36.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.87 ¥791

$4.97 ¥808

-2.01%

Eggs

$2.00 ¥325

$1.58 ¥257

26.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.39 ¥2,663

$10.00 ¥1,624

63.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.84 ¥1,761

$6.41 ¥1,041

69.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$26.48 ¥4,303

$15.32 ¥2,489

72.85%

Apples (1kg)

$5.06 ¥822

$5.89 ¥958

-14.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.59 ¥420

$3.13 ¥509

-17.25%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.13 ¥509

$4.08 ¥662

-23.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.64 ¥916

$4.60 ¥748

22.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.50 ¥568

$3.33 ¥541

5.11%

Onion (1kg)

$2.89 ¥469

$3.73 ¥605

-22.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.59 ¥258

$1.39 ¥226

14.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 ¥143

$0.86 ¥141

2.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.92 ¥799

$4.15 ¥674

18.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.09 ¥989

$9.44 ¥1,534

-35.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 ¥281

$1.75 ¥284

-1.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 ¥473

$2.12 ¥344

37.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.63 ¥265

$1.61 ¥262

1.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.91 ¥5,673

$54.5 ¥8,855

-35.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 ¥668

$3.49 ¥568

17.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.62 ¥587

$3.01 ¥489

20.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.58 ¥2,044

$22.25 ¥3,616

-43.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ¥202

$1.25 ¥202

-0.80%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.3K ¥3.8M

$22.8K ¥3.7M

2.49%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$16.7K ¥2.7M

$18.6K ¥3.0M

-10.33%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$173 ¥28.2K

$83.6 ¥13.6K

107.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.25 ¥4,428

$27.56 ¥4,478

-1.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.66 ¥5,145

$34.22 ¥5,560

-7.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.7 ¥8,723

$56.8 ¥9,229

-5.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.04 ¥1,144

$13.94 ¥2,265

-49.50%

Cinema Ticket

$12.45 ¥2,022

$11.47 ¥1,864

8.54%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$346 ¥56.2K

$287 ¥46.6K

20.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K ¥2.1M

$13.8K ¥2.2M

-4.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.75 ¥7,758

$20.67 ¥3,359

131.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.25 ¥4,753

$29.29 ¥4,759

-0.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.5 ¥11.9K

$60.6 ¥9,852

21.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.9 ¥14.8K

$97.9 ¥15.9K

-7.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 ¥72.2K

$471 ¥76.6K

-5.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$400 ¥64.9K

$334 ¥54.3K

19.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$946 ¥153.7K

$857 ¥139.2K

10.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$748 ¥121.5K

$668 ¥108.6K

11.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,584 ¥1.4M

$4,568 ¥742.1K

87.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,221 ¥198.4K

$2,023 ¥328.7K

-39.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,769 ¥287.4K

$2,703 ¥439.2K

-34.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Okinawa: July 13, 2026

Last update for Suginami-ku: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $445 in Okinawa versus $471 in Suginami-ku. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 53% higher in Suginami-ku, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Okinawa versus $35.00 in Suginami-ku. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $395 vs $320 – making Suginami-ku the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Okinawa vs Suginami-ku: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Okinawa is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,155 per month in Okinawa and $1,765 in Suginami-ku. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Suginami-ku, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Okinawa and $35.00 in Suginami-ku. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,437 in Okinawa and $1,177 in Suginami-ku. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Suginami-ku, where all-in costs run around $1,177, than in Okinawa at $1,437. In Suginami-ku it covers expenses comfortably, while in Okinawa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Suginami-ku – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Suginami-ku. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Okinawa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.